Thailand is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Its capital, Bangkok, is definitely one of the major draws to the country. Bangkok has all the appeal of any major city. It offers a nice blend of traditional Thai culture and modern entertainment perfect for all visitors to the city. So the biggest question is: where do you start? It can be overwhelming when deciding what to see and do in Bangkok with the variety of offerings. The good news is that even with just 48 hours, you can explore enough of the city that will surely have you planning your return trip as soon as it’s over.

Grand Palace

Thai culture is one of the most distinct cultures in the world. It has a rich history that has been maintained throughout the country’s growth. This is evident even in a major city such as Bangkok.

On your first day in Bangkok, you should plan to take a trip to the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace will be both a great welcome to Bangkok and an excellent introduction to the iconic Thai culture. Within this complex, you will have the opportunity to experience the grounds of the original royal government in Bangkok. Today, it is no longer the official residence of the King but many government roles are still held here.

The Grand Palace is a complex consisting of the main palace, temples, gardens, and other government buildings. Each of these buildings are a perfect representation of traditional Thai architecture. The main palace now serves as a museum for visitors to explore. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha can also be entered. Since this is a religious temple, certain clothing is restricted in order to enter.

Walking along the white-walled area, you will pass many other court houses and halls which currently host many of Bangkok’s government officials.

Khao San Road

A day spent exploring the Grand Palace grounds can only be followed by one thing while you are still across the Chao Phraya River: a visit to Khao San Road. Khao San Road is one of the most popular areas in Bangkok. You will always find the street filled with tourists at anytime during the day and night. Your experience can vary depending on the time that you arrive here.

Khao San Road in the day is a bit milder compared to how it is at night. Most tourists that you see around this time are looking for the best deals on souvenir items. If you are planning on shopping for the same, Khao San Road is the place to do so. The main street is lined on both sides with countless vendors. Here, you can find everything from clothing and keychains to henna tattoos and fortune tellers. There are so many choices that it’s always good to try to bargain to get the best deals here.

By the night fall, Khao San Road changes completely. The entire street turns into one big party. Vendors are still present but the biggest draw to Khao San at this time are the numerous bars and restaurants. Each bar/restaurant opens up into the street. It’s easy to flow between venues. Music from each place can even be heard in the streets. Khao San Road is a great place for nightlife entertainment and meeting both foreigners and locals.

Sukhumvit 

The Grand Palace gives you a look at the traditional cultural history of Thailand that Bangkok offers. Sukhumvit, on the other hand, will give you a look at a more modern feel for the city. Sukhumvit is a centrally located area of Bangkok where you will discover the bulk of the “city life.” One of the first things you will notice in Bangkok is that there are many grand shopping centers. Locals go to these centers for shopping, eating, and various entertainment such as the movie theatre and ice skating rinks. Many shopping centers are located around Sukhumvit such as Siam Paragon, Central World, and Terminal 21. Each of these centers has all of your favorite retail stores from around the world.

You will never be hungry around Sukhumvit. The area has a lot of street food vendors, restaurants of all types, and even bars.

In the day, this area is very busy with both locals and tourists. Sukhumvit is a major stop on all of the city’s public transportation. You will be able to venture to any other part of the city by transferring to one of the many options available. At night time, it’s a bit  less crowded as stores begin to close up, however several of the streets are popular hang outs with a vibrant bar and night club scene.

JJ Night Market

If you didn’t think Bangkok could get even more exciting, think again! Southeast Asia is known for their bustling night markets. JJ Night Market, also known as Chatuchak Market, is one of the most popular night markets in Bangkok. This is a go-to place during the weekend as it offers enough entertainment to fill your night.

At JJ Night Market, you will find everything including food vendors, clothing and gift vendors, and music playing all night. You will see just how packed this night market gets as the night progresses. The food vendors offer many popular Thai dishes while the gift vendors offer great items to keep as souvenirs. There are several bars in the night market area as well to enjoy drinks and even live music. 

On clear nights, this open market is a great way to end the day. There will be enough food, drinks, and entertainment that last all the way until the early morning.

Bangkok has so much to give that 48 hours will only give you a small sample of what it has to offer. From the Grand Palace to the JJ Night Market, these activities will take you to all corners of the city. Transportation is easy thanks to the abundance of cabs and tuk-tuk carts. By the time you are done exploring the above, you would have seen so much of the city that you would already be mentally planning your next trip, and maybe deciding to stay even longer!